Agitator for washing machines



June 10, 1930. H. KOLAR v AGITATOR FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Dec. 12, 1929 Patented June 10, 1930 HENRY KOLAB, OF EXETER, NEBRASKA AGI'IATOR- FOR WASHING MACHINES Application filed December 12, 1929. Serial No. 413,514.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in agitators such for example as used in connection with a washing machine, and the primary object of this invention is to provide a double agitator for this purpose.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an agitator embodying a disk-like body formed on the lowermost end of a shaft 19 adapted to be coupled to the driving shaft of the washing machine, and further wherein the disk-like body has formed integrally therewith upon the upper face thereof a plurality of ribs or vanes extending radially from the lowermost end of said shaft in conjunction with a second agitator keyed on the upper end of said shaft and embodying a disk-like body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced legs depending downwardly and out- -2o wardly therefrom at the periphery thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an agitator for use in wash tubs including a lower agitator and an upper agitator whereby to thoroughly shift and agitate 2 the articles in the tub adjacent the bottom and top of the tub.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the upper agitating member,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof,

Figure 3 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the lower agitator,

Figure 4 is a top plan view thereof,

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view thereof,

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that my improved agitator comprises a lower agitating member and an upper agitating member embodying a shaft 5 which may be of hollow construction, said shaft 5 at its lower end having formed integrally therewith a disk-like body 6. The disk-like body 6 has formed integrally therewith and rising therefrom radial vanes or wings 7 the wings 7 radiating from the lower end portion of said shaft 5.

The shaft 5 at its upper end is formed or provided with a plurality of relatively short chine.

Formed exteriorly on the shaft 5 and eX- a purpose forth. In

tending longitudinally thereof are ribs 9 for to be hereinafter more fully set forming the agitator vanes or ribs 7, the said ribs or vanes may be pressed outwardly from the material forming the disk 6, and as shown to advantage in Figure 2 these vanes 7 are of elongated hollow construction.

The upper edge or surface 10 of the vanes at the forward end of the vanes merge into downwardly sloping surfaces or vertical edges 11 merging into the disk-like body 6 at the outer peripheral edge of the disk. At the opposite ends the surface 10 merges into a downwardly and inwardly inclined surface 12, which surface 12 gradually increases in width as it approaches the lower end of the shaft 9. The side walls 1 1 converge upward ly toward the upper edge or surface 10 as indicated to advantage in Figure i.

This particular construction of each of the vanes 7 render the vanes thoroughly reliable, practical and efficient for agitating purposes especially in conjunction with wash tubs.

The upper agitator member is designated generally bythe reference character B. The agitator member B comprises a circular body portion 15 which may be formed of wood or aluminum or any other suitable material, the body portion 15 has an annular beveled edge portion 16 merging into a fiat bottom face 17 of lesser diameter than the body per se.

Projecting downwardly and outwardly from the beveled or sloping surface 16 at the periphery of the body or agitating pegs 18 there being preferably four of such agitating The egs.

body 15 is provided with a centrally located opening 19 to accommodate the upper end portion of the shaft 5 whereby the upper agitator member B may be slidable on said shaft.

The body 15 at the opening 19 hereof is further provided with diametrically opposed notches or keyways 20 for cooperation with the key members or ribs 9 of said shaft 5.

Conforming to the opening 19 and keyof the washing machine and the agitating pegs 18 of the upper agitator member B performing a like operation on the articles or clothes which may have risen toward the top of thewashing machine.

From the foregoing then it will be seen that I have devised a thoroughly practical and reliable agitator for washing machines which will thoroughly agitate and shift the clothes at the top and bottom of the machine, and which agitator'may be readily and easily applied to anconventional type of washing machinewithout necessitating material alterations in the structure of the washing machine.v

Itwill be also appreciated that a double agitator of this character will be found capable of doing quicker and better work than the single agitator as is noW in use.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of my in vention, it is .to be understood that the same is susceptible to changes fully comprehended by the spiritof the invention as herein described, and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I wish to claim as new is:

1. An agitator of the class described comprising, a shaft, means at the upper end of said shaft to facilitate the keying of the shaftvto the drive shaft of a washing machine, a disk formed integrally on said first mentioned shaft-at the lower end of said first mentioned shaft, agitator ribs formed integrally on, said disk and radiating from the adjacentend portion of said first named shaft, said rib having upwardly and rear- Wardly inclined forwardedges merging into substantially and lrearwardly, inclined edges, the latter edges merging at their lower end into the lowermost edge of said shaft, a second disk slidab-le onsaid 2. Anagitator of the class described com- I prising a shaft, longitudinally extending cleats integral with the shaft on diametrically opposite sides thereof, means for keying flat straight upper edges, which upper edges in turn merge into downwardly edges to provide downwardly and rearward- .ly inclined inner edges merging at their lower ends into the lower end of said shaft, said ribs at their forward edges inclining upwardly and rearwardly from the peripheral edge of said disc, a second disc having a cen tral aperture for slidably accommodating said shaft, said second disc at diametrically opposite, sides of said aperture having vertical notches formed therein for reception of saidcleats for preventing relative rotation e of said second disc and shaft circumferentially spaced agitating pegs extending downs wardly and outwardly from said second disc.

3. An agitator of the class described comprisingia shaft, said shaft atone end being provided with means for keying said shaft to the drive shaft of awashing machine, and said first mentioned shaft at its oppositeend having a disc formed integral 1 therewith, ribs integral with said discs and said lower end of the first mentioned shaft, and'radiating Wardly from their upper edge to provide downwardly and rearwardly inclined edges merging at their lower ends into the first mentioned shaft, ribs inclining rearwardly from the. peripheral edge of said discs, and a movable disc slidable onsaid first mentioned shaft toward or away from the second mentioned shaft, said movable disc having the periphery thereof provided with zfigitating pegs depending downwardly thererom. I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.-

HENRY KOLAR.

from said lastmentioned shaft, said ribs intermediate their ends nclining downupwardly and i: 

